July 21, 2005

  •     Next week is my last week here in Milwaukee. It will
    be strange not having to wake up at 6am every morning for a shower,
    breakfast, and then to catch a bus. I will also be strange not seeing
    all the children I have gotten to know. It will be strange coming home
    at the end of the day and not be able to go to Mass, then to the
    basement to have a drink and some popcorn with a dozen priests and
    their great jokes and stories. I may very well never see some of the
    other guys that are in this program, guys I have become best friends
    with over the past few weeks.
        There have been days that I awoke and went about my
    routine, forgetting completely that I am a college student and not a
    Jesuit. Sometimes I forgot that I am not at home, that I am away from
    home. The only memory of my “life” back in Iowa that remained constant
    was Mystery Girl, kept flickering by the photograph of her that I keep
    inside the cover of my poetry journal. I kept in touch with my family,
    my parents mostly, but looking back I seriously feel like college and
    all else passed years ago and I have been living here working with the
    Jesuits for at least a couple years.
        It is semi-frightening and strangely comforting to
    realize this, realize how quickly I slipped into this life of ministry
    and forgot almost completely that it was a temporary existance, at
    least for the time being. It has so far been a wonderful experience,
    and I feel it is an existance I may choose one day to prolong
    perpetually. I don’t expect to make a decision any time soon, though
    after a couple more months of the Mystery Girl endeavor I will probably
    be approaching the point of decision in a greater state of readiness
    and acceptance. For all those who pray, please keep my discernment in
    your prayers. For all those who do not pray, please keep me in your
    thoughts. It is a very tough decision; the choosing between two
    wonderfully good things. I hope I eventually make a good choice.

Comments (7)

  • Like all your other endeavors in life, I believe you will do just fine with this decision when you come to it. I remember a conversation we had back in our sophomore year of college where you brought up that you could see yourself going either way on this particular decision and that would depend on other aspects, but I will say what I said then to you: You will do well, no matter what your choice, in life, because you are a talented and gifted individual. You always have been, and you damn well will always be one, no matter what road life or God leads you down. It’s one of those things I’ve always respected about you, and one of the reasons I cherish you as one of my friends.
    On some lighter notes…
    Five more days till the next Star Wars novel hits shelves. I can’t wait! Of course, I preordered my copy from bn.com, and will have to wait for it to arrive before it ships to me. Hopefully, it’ll be here by next Thursday, so I have something to read. Besides that, I’ve started to read some of the Clone Wars novels, and starting that collection, especially those in paperback.
    Watched Alien 3 for the first time ever last night. Pretty good flick. Better than Alien Resurrection, at least. I didn’t like the fact the Alien was mainly CGI, but it had a lot of good visuals and plot twists to it. Really liking the Alien Quadrilogy, though.
    Well, hope you have a great week, and I’ll hopefully see you sometime in a week or two from now… Tschuss!

  • Jake I will pray for you but I know that whatever you choose to do you will be great.  You are a great guy, and I hope you will be truely happy with whatever you choose.  Take care…..Angela

  • You could always become a superhero, and form a band with your arch nemesis who can kill a yak from 200 yards with mind bullets and sing a song about it all…..

  • Helloo…I have been informed the farewell party will be August 1st at 7:00-who knows, hope to see you there!

  • Jake you flatterer! yeah i’m gonna use xanga to post a few pics or so… geeeze youre comments make me smile.

  • I’m not sure when they leave. I am guessing near the beginning of August. Take care and see you soon!!

  • Hello. Just wanted you to know i was alive and semi well. The desert sucks but hey, cant complain all that much. Just wanted to talk to you in depth. I will get a hold of you so dont worry about contacting me. Hope all is well and i am glad the trip has been a pleasure for you. Talk to you later.

    LaGrayve

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